Applicant

What type of school/college do/did you attend? Independent – non-selective

GCSE or a similar equivalent taken: yes (11 A*,1 A)

A-levels

AS: Mathematics (Further) (NA at AS)

A2: Economics (A at AS (273 UMS); predicted A; gained NA at A2)

A2: Mathematics (A at AS (293 UMS); predicted A; gained A at A2)

A2: Physics (A at AS (294 UMS); predicted A; gained NA at A2)

Details about the offer

Type of offer: conditional

Specific conditions: A in Mathematics, A in Mathematics (Further), A in Physics

Other conditions: AA, I already have an A in A2 maths so I only need two more A’s

Have you accepted the offer? yes

Have you applied to other universities you consider very close, ‘on par’ or even better than oxbridge? (Ivies, Sorbonne, LSE..others for different subjects) no

Have you met the offer? grades pending/unknown

Decisions about the application

For what reasons did you apply to Oxbridge?

I applied because I thrive off working hard and simply enjoy it.

How did you decide between Oxford and Cambridge?

To be completely honest, I thought Oxford was a far more happening city with better nightlife. Other than that there was not much between them.

Why did you choose this course?

Simple answer – it combines all my academic strengths.

Why did you choose this college/make an open application?

I thought Worcester was a fantastically warm, welcoming college with absolutely beautiful grounds. From a practical point of view it offers accommodation throughout my undergraduate degree, there are two sittings for dinner every day (which is handy if you have a busy schedule and want to pop in when it is convenient for you) and it is close to the centre of town.

Preparation

Did your school/college give you any extra tuition or help prior to your interview or application? yes

I attended a workshop once a week in my upper sixth where my phyiscs teacher presented me with some challenging problems to overcome in a pressured environment.

Do you have any advice for future applicants in terms of preparation?

Be maticulous with it because you don’t know what will come up in the interview and you’d be kicking yourself if you hadn’t revised something which was AS standard which you should have known.

Interview

Did you have to sit any pre-interview exams (LNAT/BMAT/..)? no

No

Did you have to submit any written work prior to the interview? no

No

Did you have to take any exams as part of your interview(s)? no

No

How was/were in general your interview(s)?

I thought they did go well (though i never admitted it at the time) and was happy that I had done myself justice by answering most of the questions to the best of my abilities.

Please comment further on any particular aspects/topics of your interview(s).

Know your calculus very well for engineering because in both of my interviews that was the only maths that came up.

What questions were you asked during your interview(s)?

To start with, a couple of non-important personlity/interest questions to settle me in. After that the questions were purely physics and maths based, where you need to think quickly on your feet, and think aloud because if you stumble onto the right track the interviewers generally give you a positive hint, e.g. why don’t we explore that option?

What did you wear to your interview(s), and why?

Suit trousers, an open-collor shirt and a jumper. I wanted to strike a balance between formal and casual, whilst looking serious and trying to shake off the public school image.

Impressions

What was your general impression of the college that you applied to/any others you visited?

I adored my college right from the start and had a “feeling” it was the one for me which I think is all you can go by.

How was the food provided by the college?

At the interview it was farily average, though I believe Worcester has a reputation for the best food in the university during term time.

How did you find the tutors in the college?

Very welcoming and relaxed.

Final stage

Please describe your feelings during the time you waited for the decision.

I started off confident, and as every day passed I lost confidence, thinking that I had accepted to many hints in the interview.

Please describe what happened when you received the letter/the call telling you whether you had a place or not.

I got an email and merely breathed an enormous sigh of relief as it is all I have ever wanted from my last two years of school.

Looking back

If you were to re-live that year of your life again, would you still apply?

YES!!

What advice do you have for potential applicants based on your experiences?

Prepare as thoroughly as possible because you will regret it if you don’t and fail to get in. You can’t go in to it half-hearted. Be confident in the interview, and even if you can’t see the solution immediately, thkn aloud and say everything you know about the topic at hand.

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